What it is
Element is a chat and calling app for Matrix, an open standard for messaging. Matrix works like email: anyone can run a server, and people on different servers can talk to each other. Element gives you direct messages, group rooms, threads, file sharing, and voice and video calls, with end-to-end encryption on by default for private chats.
Why it’s here
- Your own chat server. Your Federated Computer Core runs a Matrix server, and Element is the desktop app for it.
- Team chat without a vendor. Rooms, threads and spaces cover what teams use Slack or Teams for.
- Encrypted by default. Direct messages and private rooms are end-to-end encrypted.
On CoreDesktop
CoreDesktop installs Element from pacman. Running configure core points it at your Core’s Matrix server (matrix.<your domain>), so you only choose Sign in and log in with your Core account through single sign-on. Reboot once after installing CoreDesktop so Element can find the keychain it keeps its encryption keys in.
Open Element from the app grid or run element-desktop. The sandboxed AI agents can’t read its data in ~/.config/Element. update keeps it current with the rest of the pacman packages.